Few industries and technologies have received as many comments, theories, and opinions as solar. One minute you hear that it will save the world, and the next, somebody tells you it’s all a fad being pushed on us by some shady elite.
So what’s the truth behind this industry that everybody is talking about? Game changer or short-term mania?
Renewable Energy
Over the last decade, we’ve received a barrage of information about climate change and our need for action. This realization has led to calls for greater implementation of renewable energies, and solar panels used for residential and commercial properties have increased dramatically.
The planet has warmed by 2° Fahrenheit since pre-industrial levels, and its impact through water level rising, loss of natural habitat, and increasingly erratic weather is becoming clear each year.
Financial Savings
Another topic contentiously debated is what, if any, financial benefit the everyday person can receive from switching to solar energy. Can you really just sit back and enjoy the savings on your electricity bill, or will you be paying this solar system off for the rest of your life?
Installing a complete solar system on your house capable of powering your electrical needs is costly. You can expect to pay between $5,400 and $18,000 for a solar system, which isn’t cheap, but it does mean that you can save roughly $25,500 to $33,000 over the system’s lifespan. Solar energy involves some investment upfront, but the long-term savings are certainly there for the taking.
Prices and Government Support
It’s been a rocky few years, and it’s sometimes difficult to tell which direction we’re traveling as one. Many fear going all in on a technology that might fall out of favor in the future.
The truth is, it’s impossible to tell exactly where we’re heading. Still, if you look back at where solar technology was just two decades ago, the level of implementation worldwide has been staggering.
If predictions are accurate, by 2027, solar energy will become the world’s leading energy source, and it’s difficult to see countries backtracking at this point after so much investment has gone into it. This rise in use has paralleled a massive price drop that’s slowly bringing solar energy into a more affordable bracket.
Final Thought
Great change is almost always accompanied by great fear. It seems a natural human instinct to be cautious and hold on to what we think is safe and comfortable, but there comes a time when we need to make a collective leap and completely change how we live.
There’s been a lot of talk about solar energy through the years, but it has emerged as a technology that could dramatically alter our lives and even save our planet. Offering a wide range of benefits, including financial savings and a lower carbon footprint, it’s easy to see why so many have made the change to solar. Before you know it, solar power could even be the leading source of energy worldwide!
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